OLD and Covid Vaccination

[Sparklfairy]

I'm just getting back into OLD and whether people are vaccinated or not seems to be a polarising topic that is making me uncomfortable.

I'm vaccinated and tbh I'm not bothered at this stage whether my date is or not. We're only having drinks/dinner.

I've come across profiles that are angrily saying 'stay away with your poisoned vaccine' and other such delights.

I even went on a date recently with a man who screwed up his face and started to rant about vaccines but I managed to swiftly change the subject. Tbf he was an argumentative arse anyway, in one date managed to demand my opinion on both Brexit and Meghan Markle and mansplain why I was wrong on both counts

I don't really want to disclose my 'status' either way to a stranger tbh, but once the question is asked, avoiding the answer seems combative. Just as the done thing is to avoid topics like politics and religion at dinner parties (!), I just don't want a heated debate either way.

I know the short answer is if it's problematic with someone I'm talking to then just to move on, but it seems a shame (?) that it's reducing an already scant pool of prospects

It just feels like a bit of a minefield if asked the question. If I say yes then they often sneer because they haven't. If I refuse to answer as tbf it's personal info then I'm looking awkward. But I really would prefer just to avoid the subject altogether. Has anyone else come across this? How would you/are you handling it?

[seensome]

No it's not really come into conversation much, I've had my first but not bothered either way if someone wants to or not as long as they aren't preaching their reasons on me, maybe I've been lucky but I've only dated two guys that were easy going, still dating the second who's just had his first jab, perhaps drop into conversation before you meet, see their reactions on it first? I generally prefer to talk for a couple of days before a date to find out compatibility's anyway, I know your would prefer to avoid it but it might cut out the types to avoid before wasting a date on them.

[Sparklfairy]

Interesting. Yeah I do obviously chat to them a bit before meeting! There does seem to be quite a few who seem to want to get into a discussion about it and I'm just not how to actually reply. As far as I'm concerned I've made my choice and you've made yours and there's no discussion to be had you know?

[mindutopia]

I would just state very clearly in your profile that you are vaccinated and maybe some other strong opinion you have. That should hopefully weed a few out!

That said, I would certainly want someone who felt the same about vaccination as I do (though I'm long married and haven't OLD for 12+ years) and about political views. I assume they do too and it's okay to ask - unfortunately, it sounds like they are also wankers about it, which is why I'd weed them out earlier in the game.

Sadly though, I think there are probably a lot of men (who happen to be single because not many women would tolerate this rubbish) who like to have a debate because they enjoy mansplaining and feeling superior. That's another story altogether. You also need to sniff those ones out.

[Sparklfairy]

@mindutopia you're right in everything you've said. It just feels like a bit of a minefield. Of course I want to weed out the belligerent arseholes, but equally I'm pretty easy going and if I don't have particularly strong views on a subject then I let people get on with it. I find it strange that these men are surprised they're single when they push their views so forcefully on other people when I don't even really disagree, I just don't care and me having feminist views for example, I don't start ranting about womens rights... surely you're seeing at this point if you have common ground which will naturally emerge?

I think some of these men need a refund from their charm schools

[ihtwsf]

I've seen a few of these "Don't bother contacting me if you've been vaccinated" type profiles.
Guess what? Straight in the bin.
I've also seen "Don't bother contacting me if you haven't been vaccinated" - also straight in the bin. There are some right obnoxious twats around at the moment on the pro-vaccine side too. I got a load of grief from people before I was vaccinated - I'm in another country where the roll-out was slower and I had needle-phobia to contend with but I got it done as soon as I was given the chance.
A person's decision over whether to be vaccinated is theirs and theirs alone.
Nobody has ever asked me if I've been vaccinated against measles, TB, rubella, whatever. Why should this be any different?

Although I think it's people's own business whether they are vaccinated or not, if I met up with someone and they started coming out with vaccine conspiracy theories at any point they'd get ditched straightaway because it's part of a bigger picture of political views which do not match up with mine.

[Maze76]

I noticed a well known site is encouraging members to disclose their vaccination status on their profile, like a badge.

[Sparklfairy]

Yes that's the site I'm on. Wasn't sure what to make of it tbh as anyone can put anything.

[Sakurami]

I think you need stronger filters!

[user1481840227]

I don't think the vaccinated/unvaccinated divide has even properly begun yet.
I expect tensions to rise due to the matter and it's not really something that can be escaped because we all have to go through this pandemic whether we're vaccinated or not.
I think there's going to be another lockdown and the unvaccinated will be blamed and it's all going to get messy.

I'm not dating right now and not vaccinated, personally if I was though I would rather know the other persons thoughts on it, because there are people like you are fine if others aren't but then there are the others who are vaccinated who can be pretty nasty to those who don't wish to be.

Obviously it's the same on the other side, some unvaccinated people respect other peoples choices and others can be nasty about it.

So you're right that it is polarising, but of course it's going to be, it's such an in your face issue!!

[rantymcrantface66]

I've not seen any anti vax profiles yet but they'd be a good red flag not to waste my time. The 'I'm vaccinated' badges of the profile pic make me eye roll too. You're right it's all narrowing down the already poor pool. Might have to wait it out a little longer 😆

[DirtyBlonde]

Nobody has ever asked me if I've been vaccinated against measles, TB, rubella, whatever. Why should this be any different?

Because the disease is new (still learning how best to treat it) in extremely high circulation, and with a proportion of the serious cases affecting younger people previously in normal health.

If other diseases were circulating at the level covid is, I think there would be many conversations about it (like there were during swine flu, the Wales measles outbreak)

[Itsprobablynotcominghome]

Wait, he was anti-vax, pro Brexit, and hated Meghan Markle.

A gloriously perfect Venn diagram.

[rantymcrantface66]

If other diseases were circulating at the level covid is, I think there would be many conversations about it (like there were during swine flu, the Wales measles outbreak)

I can't say I remember even being asked my flu vaccination status, even during pandemics such as swine flu

[Itsprobablynotcominghome]

@rantymcrantface66

If other diseases were circulating at the level covid is, I think there would be many conversations about it (like there were during swine flu, the Wales measles outbreak)

I can't say I remember even being asked my flu vaccination status, even during pandemics such as swine flu

You got vaccinated against swine flu?

What was OLD in 2009? A different time.

[DirtyBlonde]

To be fair there wasn't a vaccine for it at the time. But views on quarantine, treatment regime and whether or not it was part of some grand conspiracy were all there

And that what the "profiles that are angrily saying 'stay away with your poisoned vaccine' and other such delights" are really dont isn't it? It's not really about disease control, it's a line that betrays so much else about attitudes

[HeavenHotel]

• I've seen a few of these "Don't bother contacting me if you've been vaccinated" type profiles.
  Guess what? Straight in the bin.
  I've also seen "Don't bother contacting me if you haven't been vaccinated" - also straight in the bin. *
  
  Exactly, just swipe left. I also don't swipe right on anyone having the vaccine badge or wearing a mask! Wearing a mask on a profile pic is like a sunglasses pic, what's the point?
  
  For what it's worth I am vaccinated but that's nobody business but mine.
  
  I know they anyone who has to ask if I've been vaccinated is not going to be my sort of date anyway. Although thinking about it. Nobody has actually mentioned it.
  
  Oh no apart from one date, but he had also been Princess Diana's photographer, he owned several properties abroad AND his dad had just died and left him a bank! Whodda thought! 🙄
  
  There was more, so much more!!

[Sparklfairy]

@user1481840227 spot on. I think that polarisation will get worse too because who wins? A person's right to know if someone is vaccinated or a person's right to privacy?

[rantymcrantface66]

You got vaccinated against swine flu?

What was OLD in 2009? A different time.

No I've never been vaccinated against any flu until this year but yes there was a swine flu vaccine produced and rolled out at the time.

OLD has been around since the mid 90's but by 2009 most of the main ones such as Plenty of fish were already established

[CrouchEndTiger12]

I've come across profiles that are angrily saying 'stay away with your poisoned vaccine' and other such delights.

I came across that in 2016 with brexit.

Leave voters fuck off and other delights.

It's pathetic and childish. Gone are the days you could have different opinions, people just want to abuse others who don't share their views.

[rantymcrantface66]

Although it's a bit depressing it's also useful that these people are being weeded out before you've wasted a week speaking to them and potentially precious time and money on a babysitter meeting them.

[Itsprobablynotcominghome]

@CrouchEndTiger12

I've come across profiles that are angrily saying 'stay away with your poisoned vaccine' and other such delights.

I came across that in 2016 with brexit.

Leave voters fuck off and other delights.

It's pathetic and childish. Gone are the days you could have different opinions, people just want to abuse others who don't share their views.

Why? I think these issues highlight a lot about your personality. It makes the filtering much easier.

[CrouchEndTiger12]

I agree it is helpful to have those weeded out but it is still pathetic and childish to think that anyone who doesn't share your views can fuck off.

[rantymcrantface66]

None of these attitudes are new though. It's just the latest thing to give these idiots an outlet. In quieter times there wasn't as much for them to expose themselves so readily. It's replaced the rants on profiles moaning about stuck up women not replying and accusing everyone of being fake. Can't imagine why no one replies hun, you sound lovely! 😆

[Rozziie]

I wouldn't want to date anyone who sneered at the vaccine, so it's useful to filter them out. Those men you talk about seem like absolute arseholes who would find anything to get upset about...why would you be interested?

[Rozziie]

Also LOL at people trying to compare the covid vaccine to the MMR! Covid is a novel virus which is currently circulating at a very high level. It's perfectly reasonable to ask whether someone you're potentially going to be kissing and sleeping with and spending time with indoors could present a risk to you! Of course you're entitled to know and make a decision accordingly!

What happened to common sense?!